Mayowa signs with Cowboys
Former Vandal defensive end and NFL free agent Benson Mayowa signed a three-year contract with the Dallas Cowboys on Tuesday.
The signing comes after his previous team, the Oakland Raiders, declined to match the Cowboys’ $8.25 million offer. The contract includes $4 million for Mayowa’s first year with the team.
During Mayowa’s three years in the NFL, the defensive end played in 30 games and recorded 23 solo tackles and two sacks. Mayowa also had two fumble recoveries and forced one fumble during his time with the Raiders.
The signing occurred after the Cowboys elected not to make any effort to retain free agent Greg Hardy.
Mayowa played at the University of Idaho from 2009-2012, recording a total of 67 tackles and 11 sacks. The defensive end entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent, signing with the Seattle Seahawks in 2013 before joining the Raiders the following season.
Purcell named inside linebackers coach
Bozeman High School head coach Troy Purcell was named the inside linebackers coach for the Vandals during a press conference Tuesday afternoon.
“I feel very fortunate to have this opportunity to join Coach Petrino,” Purcell said. “We grew up together in football and have very similar styles.”
Purcell led Bozeman to three separate Class AA state championships during his 11 seasons with the program. The coach also led Havre High School to the Class A title in 2004.
Purcell guided the Hawks to a 13-1 record last year, including a 35-23 state championship win over Billings Senior.
“There are a lot of great memories and a lot of great teams,” Purcell said in an interview with the Bozeman Daily Chronicle last month. “There’s great kids and great families, so it’s bittersweet.”
Josh Grissom can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter @GoshJrissom
Vandals earn top 10 finish
The Idaho women’s golf team traveled across the Pacific Ocean to Honolulu to compete in the Dr. Donnis Thompson Invitational this week.
The Vandals finished the tournament tied with Nebraska for ninth with a 50-over-par 914.
Idaho freshman Sophie Hausmann led the Vandals with her 9-over-par 233 to finish in a tie for 28th place. Freshman Michelle Kim and sophomore Kendall Gray followed Hausmann’s performance by both shooting a 14-over-par 230.
Senior Cassie McKinley finished just behind her teammates with a 16-over-par 232 to earn a 52nd place finish.
Two Vandals entered the tournament as individual competitors. Junior Amy Hasenoehrl finished tied for 69th with a 23-over-par 239, while senior Kassidy Long-Goheen earned a 96th place finish with a 48-over-par 264.
The tournament concluded with a tiebreaking hole between Oklahoma State and Texas A&M. Oklahoma State finished on top with a 4-under-par 860, and Texas A&M’s Thanya Pattamakijsak captured the individual title with an 8-under-par 208.
The Vandals’ next tournament is the Cowgirl Classic, scheduled for April 4-5 in Maricopa, Arizona.
Mihaela Karst can be reached at [email protected]